Means for making battery plate units



y 31, 1956 Q E. G. TIEGEL 2,756,708

MEANS FOR MAKING BATTERY PLATE UNITS Filed Oct. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1IN VEN TOR. ERNEST GEO/26E T/EGEL ATTORNEY July 31, 1956 E. G. TIEGEL2,756,708

MEANS FOR MAKING BATTERY PLATE uuns Filed Oct. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2IN VEN TOR. ERNEST GEORGE T/EGEL ATTORNEY July 31, 195 E. G. TIEGELMEANS FOR MAKING BATTERY PLATE UNITS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 6,1951 INVENTOR. ERNEST GEORGE 775551.

ATTOQNEY July 31, 1956 E. G. TIEGEL 2,756,708

MEANS FOR MAKING BATTERY PLATE UNITS Filed Oct. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR.

ERNEST GEO/26E 77EGEL ATTORNE Y MEANS FOR MAKING BATTERY PLATE UNITSErnest George Tiegel, San Francisco, Calif., assignor t TiegelManufacturing Co., Belmont, Caiif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication October 6, 1951, Serial No. 250,939

2 Claims. (Cl. 113-59) The present invention relates to improvements inmeans for making battery plate units, and the invention has particularreference to the manufacture of plate units used in electric storagebatteries.

The principal object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture ofbattery plate units. A unit of this character consists of alternatingplates usually identified as positive and negative, with individualseparators interposed between the plates. The plates have leadsprojecting therefrom, and in the conventional method they are assembledso as to aline the leads of the positive plates along one edge of theassembly and those of the negative plates along the other edge of theassembly. The leads on opposite sides of the assembly are thenelectrically connected by a lead burning process during which thepositive and negative terminals are anchored to the leads.

Heretofore it has been conventional practice to first assemble and joinone set of plates, and in aseparate operation assemble and join theother set of plates, whereupon the two sets were interlaced and theseparators introduced individually into their respective places.

In the present invention it is proposed to greatly simplify theoperation by providing means whereby all the plates and the separatorsmay be initally stacked into a unit and the entire unit may bemanipulated through the burning process in a single operation. incarrying out the process of the invention it is proposed as a first stepto provide a simple means whereby the lead-carrying edges of the platesand the corresponding edges of the separators of the pre-formed stackautomatically arrange themselves into alined relation upon the meredropping of the assembly'into the machine.

As a second step it is proposed to provide means operable by a singlehandle for alining the side edges of the assembled plates andseparators.

As a third step it is proposed to provide cooperating combs andback-irons for isolating the ends of the leads for burning operationspreparatory to the burning step, this step again being carried out forthe entire assembly by operation of a single control element.

In the finished unit the outer edges of the plates, that is the edgesopposite those carrying the leads, must be alined with the correspondingedges of the separators. In carrying out my process, the inner edges ofthe plates and the separators are initially alined which causes narrowportions of the separators to project beyond the outer edges of theplates. It is necessary, therefore, after the unit leaves the machine,to push the separators inwardly so as to bring the outer edges intoregistry and for this purpose it is necessary again that the burningline be fixed with respect to the inner edges of the separators so as toprovide the correct space to accommodate the inner edges of theseparators when the outer edges are pushed into registry with the outeredges of the plates.

It is further proposed, therefore, in my invention, to provide meanswhereby the burning line may be exactly adjusted with respect to theinner edges of the plate and the separator assembly, to provide a spacebetween the nited States Patent 2,756,708 Patented July 31, 1956 "iceburning line and the said inner edges corresponding exactly to the widthof the portions of the separators projecting beyond the outer edges ofthe plates.

It is further proposed in the present invention to combine all thefeatures hereinabove outlined into a comparatively simple machine, andto arrange the latter in such a manner that a pluralitv of units may beprocessed at the same time.

It is additionally proposed, for ease of manipulation, to mount theentire working unit of the machine with freedom of rotary motion throughwhereby one side of the machine is presented upwardly during thepositioning operations during which the battery units are inserted withthe plate leads pointing downwardly. After the plates have beenpositioned the working unit may be turned upside down to present theleads on top for facilitating the burning operation.

My machine is intended to accommodate a plurality of plate and separatorassemblies at the same time, in a plurality of alined chambers, eachchamber being of a length to hold the stack in compact condition. Sincedifferent stacks intended for different batteries are made of differentthicknesses, it is desirable to make the lengths of the difierentchambers adjustable, and it is a further feature of this invention toprovide means whereby the lengths of all the chambers may be adjusted ina single operation.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thespecification proceeds, and the novel features of my invention will befully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows an end view of my machine,

Figure 2, a transverse section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 4,

Figure 3, a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 4,

Figure 4, a top plan view of the machine positioned for insertion of thepre-stacked plate and separator assemblies,

Figure 5, a top plan view of the machine in inverted position, the leftone-half of the drawing showing the combs and back-irons in originalposition, while the right hand side of the drawing shows the combs andback-irons after they have moved towards one another for isolating theends of the leads for the burning operation, and

Figure 6, a detail view of a wedge adjusting means as seen from theright side of Figure 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish tohave it understood that various changes and modifications may be madewithin the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Before describing the machine in detail it should be noted that as aninitial step in the manufacture of battery plate units in accordancewith my invention the operator stacks the positive and negative platesand the separators in conventional order, with the leads of the positiveplates projecting from the inner edge of the stack along one sidethereof and the leads of the negative projecting from the same edgealong the other side thereof. The separators are made somewhat longerthan the body portions of the plates, and after the desired number ofplates and separators have been stacked in related order, the stack maybe squared manually to bring the side edges of the plates and theseparators into approximate registry and to bring the inner edges of theseparators into registry with the inner edges of the plates, while theouter edges of the separators project beyond the plates. In thiscondition the stack is ready for insertion into the machine.

My machine comprises in its principal features an elongated box 1supported with freedom of rotary motion about a longitudinal axis anddivided into a number of compartments 2 adapted to receive the stackedplate assemblies, a rest 3 extending longitudinally along the bottom ofthe box so as to form a stop for each stacked assembly, clamping members4 mounted above the box for engaging theside edges of the stacks and forbringing the same into registry, and cooperative combs and back-irons Sand 6 movable along the bottom of the box for isolating projectingportions of the plate leads for burning operations.

The box 1 comprises a pair of spaced side walls 7 and a pair of endwalls 8. A supporting plate 9 is placed upon the outside of each endwall, and a bearing plate 10 upon the supporting plate, the plates beingsecured upon one another and the end walls by any suitable means. Eachbearing plate has a shaft 11 projecting therefrom, the two shafts beingrevolvably mounted in two bearings 12 supported in standards 13. The twoshafts are alined with one another and may be arranged substantially incentral relation with respect to the box, although an off-set relationmay be preferred for balancing purposes.

The box is divided into a number of compartments or chambers 2, eachbeing defined by a stationary partition 14 and a movable partition 15.One end wall may take the place of one stationary partition. The movablepartitions have tongues 15 projecting laterally therefrom, the tonguesbeing slidable in slots 17 in the side walls of the box, and theprojecting ends of the tongues being interconnected by rods 18, whichlatter are slidable in brackets 19 forming part of the end supportingplates 9. In this manner all the movable partitions are interconnected,and if one is adjusted for shortening or lengthening the compartment,all the others are automatically adjusted with the same. The rods may belocked in adjusted position by set screws 20.

Each compartment is adapted to receive a pro-stacked battery plate unit21, the unit comprising positive plates with leads 22, negative plateswith leads 23 and separators 24 arranged in conventional order, with theleads 22 projecting from one edge of the stack (hereinafter referred toas the inner edge) along one side thereof, and the leads 23 projectingfrom the same edge along the other side thereof, the two sets beingspaced sufficiently to leave a body section between the same clear. Theseparators are somewhat longer than the body sections of the plates, soas to project beyond the outer edges of the plates, when the inner edgesare made to register.

After the length of the compartments has been adjusted to take thedesired number of plates and separators, the stacked units are droppedinto the compartments,

in inverted position, and the downward movement of the I unit is stoppedby a central rest 3 mounted along the bottom of the box throughout thelength thereof. The rest is in the form of a strap of metal extendingthroughout the length of the box and having a bottom surface disposedsubstantially in the bottom plane of the box and being sufficientlynarrow to fit between the two sets of leads 22 and 23. When the unitstrikes the rest, the latter causes the inner edges of the plates and ofthe separators to register while the outer edges of the separatorsproject beyond those of the plates. compartment is slightly larger thanthat of the assembled unit.

To insure registry of the side edges, I provide the two clamping bars 4arranged on opposite sides of the projecting portion of the unit andmovable toward one another for clamping upon the unit. These bars aresupported in two end shafts 25 slidable in bearings 26 mounted at theends of the box, one of the bars being fixed to the shaft as at 27 whilethe other one is slidable thereon. The latter has short rods 28projecting therefrom in parallel relation to the shafts 25, and theshafts and the rods have opposing rack teeth as at 29, with aninterposed pinion 30 operable by a suitable toggle mechanism 31 formoving the shafts and the rods in opposite directions to force theclamping members toward or away from the plate units. Thus the clampingsection may be effected simulta- The width of each neously for all theunits by simple operation of the handle 32 operating the togglemechanism.

The toggle mechanism is supported on a side plate 33 having two endmembers 34 secured upon the bearing plates 10, the end members alsoserving as supporting means for the bearings 26.

The comb and back-iron assembly and its operating mechanism are formedas a separate unit which is independently adjustable with respect to thebox. There is one set of cooperating combs and back-irons for each setof leads. As shown in Figure 2, the two combs 5 are mounted outside thebox, when inactive, while the backirons 6 are mounted underneath therest 3, the combs and back-irons being mounted in the same horizontalplane for sliding movement underneath the box.

Each comb comprises an elongated plate which may extend through thelength of the box and which has been cut to present a number of teethalong the inner edge thereof, the teeth being adapted to enter thespaces between the battery plate leads. The front ends of the teeth arerecessed to present projecting tongues 41 adapted to be received incorresponding grooves 42 of the back-irons. When the combs and theback-irons are moved toward one another they completely enclose theplate leads and isolate projecting portions thereof for lead burningoperations. 4

The combs and the back-irons have confining plates 43 mounted upon thebottom faces thereof which are shaped to form cavities about theprojecting end of the leads for accommodating battery posts and forlimiting the flow of the lead during the burning operation.

The comb and back-iron assembly is supported by means of a number ofT-shaped members 44 slidable in vertical channels 45 secured upon thesides of the box, the T-shaped members being adjustable for height bymeans of wedges 46 mounted on straps 47 extending throughout the lengthof the machine. The T-shaped members carry bearings for transverse rods48 which are adapted to slide through the lower section of the box atportions not occupied by the plate assemblies.

These rods carry the combs and the back-irons, and also a back plate 49spaced from one side of the box.

The back plate 49 and the nearest comb 5 support, on rods 50 andcross-members 51, a series of cylinders 52 having pistons 53 thereinadapted to operate links 54 for moving the back bar 49 and the near combtoward each other or away from each other. The pistons may be operatedfor movement in either direction by air pressure, preferably all undercontrol of a single valve shown at 55.

The back bar 49, combs 5 and back-irons s are connected to the rods 48and other suitable guide rods 56 in such a manner that, referring toFigure 2, for instance, the back bar 49, the first back-iron 6 and thesecond comb 5 move in unison to the left, while the first comb 5 and thesecond back-iron 6 move in unison toward the right, thus causing thefirst comb and back-iron set to close in on one set of leads, while thesecond set closes in on the second set of leads.

A suitable weight 57 is mounted on the side of the box opposite thecylinder assembly to counterbalance the weight of the cylinder assemblyand to facilitate the operation of turning the entire assembly on theshafts 11. The use of the counterweight might possibly be dispensed withby off-setting the supporting shafts 11 with respect to the box so as tocause the latter to balance the weight of the cylinder assembly.

Suitable stops 58 are provided for cooperation with the bearingstandards 13 in holding the box assembly in either one of its twohorizontal positions.

In operation, the compartments of the box are first adjusted to the sizeof plate assembly for which the machine is to be used. This may bereadily done by dropping one plate assembly into one of the compartments2 and by pushing the movable partition 15 of that compartment upon theplate assembly so as to compact the latter to a desired degree. Thisadjustment automatically takes care of all the other movable partitionswhich move in unison with the one that is being adjusted.

Next, the machine may be adjusted to the proper burning height. In thepre-stacked plate and separator assembly, if the inner edges of theplates and the separators are brought into registry, the outer edges ofthe separators will project beyond the outer edges of the plates by acertain margin indicated by the arrows 60 in Figure 2. The burningheight, that is, the distance between the top plane of the rest 3 andthe bottom plane of the combs, as indicated by arrows 61 in the samefigure, should be made to correspond exactly to the margin identified bythe arrows 60. This adjustment may be readily made by endwise adjustmentof the straps 47 causing the wedges 46 to raise or lower the T-shapedmembers 44 in the vertical channels 45, since the entire comb andcylinder assembly is supported by the T-shaped members.

After these preliminary adjustments have been made, the machine may beused for any number of operations involving battery plate units havingthe same specifications.

For individual operation, the operator drops six prestacked plate andseparator assemblies, leads first, into the six compartments so as tocome to rest on the rest straps 3, with the leads projecting beyond thestraps. Next he operates the handle 32 of the toggle joint to urge theclamps 4, which preferably carry sponge rubber linings, upon the sideedges of the assemblies. He then operates the valve handle 55, to causethe combs and back-irons 5 and 6 to close in on the plate leads,isolating the ends of the leads for burning operations.

The operator now turns the entire box assembly upside down as in Figure5, inserts the battery terminals in the recesses 62 and fuses the baseportions of the terminals and the projecting portions of the plate leadsby the well-known lead burning process, filling the cavity left betweenthe confining plates 43.

The units may then be removed, upon release of the positioning means,and the separators may then be pushed up to the burning line, which willbring the outer edges of the separators into registry with the outeredges of the plates.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, an elongated, rectangularbox open at the top and at the bottom and mounted with freedom of rotarymotion about a horizontal axis, the box having transverse, uniformlyspaced, fixed end walls, and transverse, uniformly spaced, movable endwalls with one movable end wall positioned intermediate each twoconsecutive fixed walls to form consecutive compartments therewith, eachcompartment being adapted to receive an inverted stacked battery plateassembly therein, a rest extending longitudinally along the bottom ofthe box so as to form a stop for each stacked assembly, the rest beingnarrower than the box opening and centrally located with respect theretoand allowing leads of the assemblies to project therebeyond on oppositesides thereof, the movable end walls being operable to adjust the lengthof the compartments to the width of the assemblies, and connecting meansbetween the movable end walls arranged outside the box and operable formoving all the movable walls in unison in the same direction when one ismoved, the box having clamping members on the top thereof for engagingthe side edges of the assemblies and for bringing all the side edgesinto registry, and the box having cooperative combs and back-ironssuspended from the sides thereof and mounted in the bottom of the boxand below the level of the rest and movable for isolating projectingportions of the plate leads for burning operations.

2. In a machine of the character described, an elongated, rectangularbox open at the top and at the bottom and mounted with freedom of rotarymotion about a horizontal axis, the box having transverse, uniformlyspaced, fixed end walls, and transverse, uniformly spaced, movable endWalls with one movable end well positioned intermediate each twoconsecutive fixed walls to form consecutive compartments therewith, eachcompartment being adapted to receive an inverted stacked battery plateassembly therein, a rest extending longitudinally along the bottom ofthe box so as to form a stop for each stacked assembly, the best beingnarrower than the box opening and centrally located with respect theretoand allowing leads of the assemblies to project therebeyond on .oppositesides thereof, the movable end walls being operable to adjust the lengthof the compartments to the width of the assemblies, the box having sidewalls with longitudinal slots therein and the movable end Walls havingtongues projecting through the slots, and rods interconnecting thetongues on the outside of the box and operable to move all the movableend walls in unison in the same direction when one of them is moved, andthe box having clamping means mounted on the top of the same for lockingthe plate assemblies in their respective compartments, and the boxhaving cooperative combs and back-irons suspended from the sides thereofand mounted on the bottom of the box below the level of. the rest andmovable for isolating projecting portions of the plate leads in all thechambers for burning operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,391,649 Hahn Sept. 20, 1921 1,495,894 DuBois May 27, 1924 1,932,136Hole Oct. 24, 1933 1,960,195 Nyce May 22, 1934 2,430,188 Sargent Nov. 4,1947 2,454,053 Galloway -1 Nov. 16, 1948 2,505,514 Anderson Apr. 25,1950 2,516,546 Brown July 25, 1950 2,539,318 Orsino Jan. 23, 1951

